After getting into a crash with another person, you, as a victim, have the right to seek out compensation. You may ask for compensation to cover damage to your vehicle, the cost of your medical care, lost wages and other financial impacts caused by the collision.
What some people don’t realize is that the insurance company you make a claim through may not want to compensate you fairly. An insurance company’s job is to save as much money as possible on a personal injury claim. That said, there are things you can do to maximize the amount you’re offered and to make sure you get what you need.
Making an insurance claim
Shortly after a collision, it is likely that the other party’s insurance will reach out to you. At that time, it is essential that you do not do or say anything that may make it seem like you are uninjured or that you are doing well with your recovery. Doing so could hurt your case.
Instead, it’s a smart idea to tell the insurance company to reach out to your attorney directly. That way, your attorney can handle any inquiries about your health and how your recovery is going in a way that is as protective of your claim as possible.
You will also pass on relevant medical information to your attorney so that they can leverage it to get you the best possible offer.
Should you accept if you receive a settlement offer?
In the majority of cases, you will not want to settle with the first offer you receive. The first offer may be “testing the water,” so you can, and should, consider refusing it. It is particularly important not to accept an offer when you’re not yet sure how your injuries will impact you in the long term or if you don’t yet know the cost of your care or overall losses.
Negotiating is expected in these situations. You can ask for more than what you’re offered and even take your case to court if the insurance company isn’t being reasonable. Keep this in mind as you focus on your recovery and getting the money you deserve.
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